Electric iron with timer and ironing board and cabinet therefor



M 25,1965 L. E. MILLER ETALI 3,185,278

ELECTRIC mou WITH TIMER AND 1110mm BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR Filed Dec.51, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l nvwszvrons EXUE 0E0 MINER ATTORNEY ZAWRENE EMILLER HHHH H HHHHHI INHHHHHHHHHHHHHIHH P P PH II llllllllllllllllllllib llllllllllllll 1 3 I I -I-it:51----:---l:{--.:-: L w a z a w a 2 May1965 y L. E. MILLER ETAL ELECTRIC IRON WITH TIMER AND IRONING BOARD ANDCABINET THEREFOR Filed Dec. 31, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORSlAWRE/Vfff M/[lflq y [XZIE DfO MILLER A TTORNEY May 25, 1965 MlLLER ETAL7 3,185,278

ELECTRIC IRON WITH TIMER AND IRONING BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR FiledDec. 51, 1962 I r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ZAWPENIE MILLER av E! (IfEEO MILM'R Z 1 ATTORNEY United States Patent 1 O 3,l.85,278 ELECTRKCIRQN WITH TIMER AND KRQNENG iiit'iARD AND CAiiitQE i Til'clERlEl QRLawrence E. Miilcr, Muskogee, Mich, and Excie Dec Milier, Peoria, iii,assignors to Clarence it. Miller, Peoria, Iii. Continuation ofapplication filer. No. '767,ii4 2, (Pet. 13, 1958. This application Dec.31, W62, Scr. No. 25%,4-57 6 Claims. (Cl. l94--l) This application is acontinuation of our application Serial No. 767,042, filed October 13,i958, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an electric iron with timer and ironing boardand cabinet therefor, the timer in the case of an installation in amotelor hotel requiring the insertion or" .a coin to release a catch forthe cabinet door and allow setting the timer, but the timer in otherinstallations being set into operation by merely turning a knob to allowcurrent to flow to the iron only a predetermined length of time, more orless as a safety feature. p In the coin-operated unit, after a coin isinserted in the timer, the manually rotatable knob is free to be turnedto set the timer for a given period of operation, say thirty minutes.Then a door release button can be pressed to close a circuitthrough asolenoid which releases a catch, allowing the door of the cabinet toswing open under pressure of a spring-pressed plunger bearing againstthe inner side of the door, this spring-pressed plunger being part of asingle-pole single-throw switch, which in the open position of the dooris closed, keeping a circuit through the electric iron and also a redwarning light visible at the front of the cabinet, so that the operatoris always aware when the current is flowing through the iron and properprecautions should be taken accordingly. If the iron is put away and theironing board folded and the door of the cabinet closed before the timefor which the timer is set has elapsed, the safety switch isautomatically opened and current to the iron and warning light is shutoff, as a safety measure. The spring-pressed plunger resists closing ofthedoor as a further safety measure, and, of course, the catch operatedby the solenoid will not permit locking the door in closed positionuntil the period for which the timer is set-has elapsed, thereby greatlyreducing any fire hazard. 1

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which PK}.1 is a front view of the cabinet of our invention shown closed, exposingonly the timer, door release button and bulb for the warning light;

FIG. 2 is a similar View with the door opened as a result of depress-ionof the door relcasebutton after a coin has been deposited in the timerand its knob has been turned to set it; v

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the line .i-S of FIG. 1 indicating in dotand dashlines the ironing'board and cabinet door in rnoved positions;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 44 of FIG. 3, showing thecabinet door swung open and the ironing board swung down for use; i

FIG. 5 is a perspective viewo'f PEG. 4, and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are wiring diagrams for the coin-operated and free meteredunits, respectively.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughoutthe views.

Referringto the drawings, the reference numeral 3 designates a cabinetwhich is preferably, though not neces- "ice board, which is cut away, asindicated at 16 in FIGS. 2, 4 I

and 5, to provide adequate clearance for the inwardly projecting portion17 of the timer 1%, is arranged to engage under a stop provided on theback wall 20 of the cabinet to support the ironing board in its extendedhorizontal operative position indicated in clot and dash A certainamount of support is also prolines in FIG. 3. vidcd for the ironingboard in the horizontal position by the upper ends of the fixed sideportions 21 or" the lower front wall of the cabinet, between which themiddle panel 22 carrying the timer 1% is hinged on a horizontal axis, asindicated at 23 in FIG. 3, to swing downwardly to an open horizontalposition for the removal of coins from the coin box 1"". The coins areinserted through a slot 24 in the iront of the timer adjacent the knob25 that the ooerator turns after depositing a coin to set the timer.Lock Z5 locks the panel 22 to one of the side panels 21, and theproprietor of the motel or other establishment, where a number of theseironer'units are installed, has

the key to open this lock and also open a door on the coin box 17', andit is manifest that one cannot gain access to the coin box 17 wellenough through the small semicircular opening it: in the inner endportion of the ironing board 12 to enable a thief to break into the boxto steal the money, and yet the timer 18 with its slot 24 is fullyexposed to the View ot a prospective patron, so that there will be noproblem for an uninitiated person to insert a coin when the ironingfacilities available race to be used. The same general arrangement canbe used in a free meter unit the diagram for which appears in FIG. 7,except that in such a unit the timer 1% will not, of course, require theinsertion of a coin to free thek-nob 25' for turning but the knob can beset for any desired number of minutes up to say thirty minutes ofoperation, as indicated by the dial 2? in "FIG. 7.

T he transverse cleat i9 forming the stop for abutment by the inner endof the ironing board 12 in its horizontal position forms a support alsofor the broad rear end of the electric iron 23 and the lower end of anasbestos pad 29 against which the sole plate of the iron 23 is heldengaged when the side portions of the iron are slipped between thelaterally spaced vertical metallic holsters 3i) that are secured to theback wall 26 of the cabinet with the pad 2.9. The ifiifiblfi extensioncord 31 for the electric iron 2%, when the iron is not in use can, ifdesired, be wound around cleats 32 provided on the back wall 20 of thecabinet alongside .the holsters 3d. The inner end portion of the cord 31extends from there, "as shown at 33 in PEG. 5, into the vertical housing34 that extends the full length of the cabinet 8 and contains andconceals all of oneness u but arranged to be pulled upwardly by thearmature ele ment as of an electrical solenoid 4-1 to released positionwhen the solenoid is energized. Thus, the cabinet when closed isautomatically locked until energization of the solenoid El, and thatrequires the insertion of the appropriate coin in slot 24 in timer l3,rotation of the knob 25 to set the timer into operation, and finally thedepression of a door release button 42 provided on the left hand lowerfront panel 21 on the cabinet. The instant the latch 37 is released, thedoor Jill is pushed open by means of a spring-pressed plunger 43 thatforms a part of a single-pole single-throw switch 44-, which, so long asthe door It) remains closed, is in open circuit position. The opening ofthe door i therefore completes the circuit through the electric iron 28.A red warning light which is turned on as soon as the timer 18 is setinto operation and remains on so long as it continues to run, is visible from in front of the cabinet and serves to warn the user so long asthe timer 13 has not run its normal period of time, so that he or shecan take the proper precautions in the use of the electric iron so asnot to ruin clothing or allow a youngster to get burned or create a firehazard with the iron. A separate switch 46 is also usually provided onthe iron 28 forming a part of the heat adjustment normally provided onirons so that the user can shut oi? the iron when it is no longerneeded, thereby further re ducing the fire hazard.

In operation, assuming the unit is coin-operated, the user must deposita coin, say a quarter, in slot 24 for say thirty minutes use of theironing facilities and must turn the knob 25 to set the timer. Movementof the pointer end 47 of the knob relative to suitably markedgraduations 48 on the face of the timer 18 will serve to indicate thetime left at any point in the use of the iron, so that the user cancheck from time to time while using the iron and endeavor to finishwhatever work requires ironing before the timer turns oil the current.When the button 42 is depressed, after the knob 25 has been set, thedoor 10 swings open under action of the spring-pressed plunger 43,following the automatic release of the latch 37 by energization of thesolenoid a l. The switch 44-, with which the spring-pressed plunger 43is associated, when closed, maintains the electric circuit through theiron and red Warning light The latter stays on as long as the timer 18runs, regardless of the open or closed circuit position of switch 46 oniron 23, so that the user is always warned to observe the properprecautions in the use of the iron and is also notified when this lightgoes out that if any further use of the iron is necessary, it willnecessitate the depositing of another coin in slot 24;.

Where this ironing unit is not coin-operated, as in the circuit shown inFIG. 7, the same electrical equipment may be used as for thecoin-operated units of FIG. 6 except that the timer 18 can be set byhand by turning the knob 25 to any desired position with respect to thedial 27 for as many minutes of use of the iron as may be desired. Insuch a unit, however, the solenoid 41 and latch 37 operated thereby maybe dispensed with, in which case the push-button 42 would also bedispensed with and likewise the spring-pressed plunger and switch 44, asindicated by the dotted line connection in the circuit, although it isconceivable that the elements 43 and 54 might still be provided as shownin full lines in the circuit, even though the button and solenoid 41with latch 37 are omitted.

It is believed the foreging description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims havebeen drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

We claim:

1. In an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric ironfor ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on itwhich also has an off position enabling manually turning the electriciron off independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinetadapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron andhaving a door the opening of which affords access to the electric ironand ironing board, said cabinet including a fire resistant supporttherein for the electric iron, spring-pressed means urging the door toopen position, a keeper on the door, a catch mounted in the cabi- .etarranged normally to engage said keeper, a solenoid housed in saidcabinet and connected with said catch to release it when the solenoid isenergized, coin controlled circuit closing means closing circuitsthrough said electric iron solenoid timer means automatically set intooperation for a predetermined time upon the depositing of a coin forautomatically opening said circuit closing means, and a switchcontrolling the circuit for said elec tric iron operable by saidspring-pressed means, said witch being closed when the spring-pressedmeans holds the door open and being opened when the door is closed,whereby to break the circuit through the electric iron when the door isclosed to avoid danger of the electric iron causing a fire.

2. An electric ironing unit as set forth in claim 1, including amanually operable switch accessible outside said cabinet and which whenclosed completes the circuit through the solenoid.

3. In an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric ironfor ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on itwhich also has an off position enabling manually turning the electriciron oil independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinetadapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron andhaving a door the opening of which affords access to the electric ironand ironing board, said cabinet including a dire-resistant supporttherein for the electric iron, a siring-pressed plunger urging the doorto open position, means for releasably securing the door in closedposition, a warning light connected in circuit with said electric ironso as to be turned on whenever the iron is turned on, said warning lightbeing visible on the outside of said cabinet, circuit closing meansclosing circuits through said electric iron and warning light, timermeans for automatically opening said circuit closing means, and adoor-operated switch for automatically breaking the circuit through theelectric iron and warning light in the closed position or" the doorindependently of said timer means, whereby to avoid danger of theelectric iron causing a fire.

4-. in an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric ironfor ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on itwhich also has an off position enabling manually turning the electriciron off independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinetadapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron andhaving a door the opening of which affords access to the electric ironand ironing board, said cabinet including a fire-resistant supporttherein for the electri iron, an electrical warning signal connected incircuit with said electric iron so as to be turned on whenever the ironis turned on, circuit closing means closing a circuit through saidelectric iron and warning signal, timer means for automatically openingsaid circuit closing means, and a switch for automatically breaking thecircuit through the electric iron and warnin signal independently ofsaid timer means when the electric iron and ironing board are put awayinside said housing behind said door, whereby to avoid danger of theelectric iron causing a fire.

5. In an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric ironfor ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on itwhich also has an oflf position enabling manually turning the electriciron off independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinetadapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron andhaving a door the opening of which atfords access to the electric ironand ironing board, said cabinet including a fire-resistant supporttherein for the electric iron, at spring-pressed plunger urging the doorto open position, means for releasably securing the door in closedposition, circuit closing means closing a circuit through said electriciron, timer means for automatically opening said circuit closing means,and a door-operated switch for automatically breaking the circuitthrough the electric iron in the closed position of the doorindependently of said timer means, whereby to avoid danger of theelectric iron causing a fire.

6. An electric ironing unit as set forth in claim 1 including a warninglight connected in circuit with said electric iron so as to be turned onwhenever the iron is turned on, said warning light being visible on theoutside of the cabinet.

6 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,558,409 10/25 Stienecker 38--104 1,734,740 11/29 Morin.

2,568,211 9/51 Woelke 38-107 2,572,350 10/51 Kaufman.

2,591,288 4/52 Pitchford. 2,800,988 7/57 Timrns 194-9 ROBERT B. REEVES,Acting Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiners.

1. IN AN ELECTRIC IRONING UNIT, THE COMBINATION WITH AN ELECTRIC IRON FOR IRONING CLOTHES HAVING A MANUALLY OPERABLE HEAT CONTROL SWITCH ON IT WHICH ALSO HAS AN OFF POSITION ENABLING MANUALLY TURNING THE ELECTRIC IRON OF INDEPENDENTLY OF THE REST OF THE COMBINATION, OF A CABINET ADAPTED TO HOUSE AN IRONING BOARD AND HOUSING SAID ELETRIC IRON AND HAVING A DOOR THE OPENING OF WHICH AFFORDS ACCESS TO THE ELECTRIC IRON AND IRONING BOARD, SAID CABINET INCLUDING A FIRE RESISTANT SUPPORT THEREIN FOR THE ELECTRIC IRON, SPRING-PRESSED MEANS URGING THE DOOR TO OPEN POSITION, A KEEPER ON THE DOOR, A CATCH MOUNTED IN THE CABINET ARRANGED NORMALLY TO ENGAGE SAID KEEPER, A SOLENOID HOUSED IN SAID CABINET AND CONNECTED WITH SAID CATCH TO RELEASE IT WHEN THE SOLENOID IS ENERGIZED, COIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CLOSING MEANS, CLOSING CIRCUITS THROUGH SAID ELECTRIC IRON AND SOLENOID TIMER MEANS AUTOMATICALLY SET INTO OPERATION FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME UPON THE DEPOSITING OF A COIN FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING SAID CIRCUIT CLOSING MEANS, AND A SWITCH CONTROLLING THE CIRCUIT FOR SAID ELECTRIC IRON OPERABLE BY SAID SPRING-PRESSED MEANS HOLDS SWITCH BEIND CLOSED WHEN THE SPRING-PRESSED MEANS HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN AN BEARING OPENED WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, WHEREBY TO BREAK THE CIRCUIT THROUGH THE ELECTRIC IRON WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED TO AVOID DANGER OF THE ELECTRIC IRON CAUSING A FIRE. 